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    Home > Drinks

    Copycat Vegan Baileys

    By My Pure Plants on 12/01/2022 - May contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe Print Pin

    Since Diageo discontinued Baileys Almande, also known as the vegan Baileys, in 2021, your only chance to enjoy it is to make it at home with this quick and easy recipe. All you need to do is mix Irish whiskey, coffee, almond milk, cane sugar, and a bit of vanilla and cocoa powder. It is better than the original. Look at the comments. 

    A whiskey glass with brown creamy drink and heart-shaped ice. A tall bottle full of brown creamy drink is next to it with a label with a name, Irish cream. Almonds and cocoa powder are around them.

    It’s Emese, and I love Baileys! I don’t drink much alcohol, but if I had to choose just one of all alcoholic drinks, I would select Baileys. I even toasted with it at our wedding. 🙂 Also, my husband explicitly asked me to mention that he strongly prefers wine or beer. 🙂

    Table of Contents hide
    1. Is Baileys vegan?
    2. Ingredients
    3. Instructions
    4. How to drink it
    5. FAQs and substitutions
    6. Allergen info
    7. Want some cookies with it?
    8. Copycat Vegan Baileys (Almande Liqueur)

    Is Baileys vegan?

    The original Baileys is digestive to serve before dinner or toast with. It is one of the most popular spirits in Europe. It has many variations, including limited edition flavors, but sadly none of them are vegan. 

    In 2017, Diageo saw a potential demand and created Baileys Almande, its first and only vegan product. Sadly, vegan Baileys was only on the market until 2021. Now, you either find a similar brand like Besos de Oro or Horchata or make a homemade version.  

    Diageo did not disclose the complete list of ingredients either on the packaging or on its website. They only say that Almande Liquor is gluten- and dairy-free but may contain soy. We only know some of its ingredients:

    • Real almond milk, which is made of sweet almond oil and almond essence (extracted from crushed almonds)
    • Cane sugar
    • Purified water
    • Real vanilla
    • Coffee, and
    • Irish whiskey

    If you are debating whether you need homemade vegan Baileys in your life, these are the reasons you should consider:

    1. Discontinued – It was pretty pricey, so it was cheaper to make at home than buy. But since it is not available anymore, the purchase price is not an issue per se. 
    2. Bad reviews – Many people love it, but the reviews were not very flattering. People were talking about experiencing a bitter aftertaste (which may be due to the almond essence). They also said that it tasted artificial. Some found the smell off-putting.
    3. Homemade vs. Store-bought beverages – When making anything at home, you will know exactly what you put in it. 

    Ingredients

    We developed this recipe to create the best copycat vegan Irish cream liquor. The comments tell us that we succeeded.

    • Almond milk
    • Jameson Irish whiskey
    • Espresso (strong to medium)
    • Cane sugar – Because it is also the sweetener used for Baileys Almande. You can also use coconut sugar, which adds a nice caramel flavor. It will be subtle but delicious indeed.
    • Cocoa powder – Because The Original Baileys Irish Cream contains chocolate flavor.
    • Vanilla extract

    🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Instructions

    Make a strong-quality coffee

    We have a neat little Nespresso Citiz & Milk machine*, which we bought after our first daughter was born. We are still loving it. For this recipe, we made an espresso using a Nespresso capsule called Arpeggio*. It has a strong to medium intensity.

    A small espresso glass with dark brown coffee. A hand is holding the glass by its ear. It is placed on a silver plate.

    Blend to make vegan Baileys

    It is only one step. You can use a whisk and stir it until the sugar dissolves. But I prefer to add all ingredients to a blender and mix them thoroughly. You don’t need a high-powered blender like Vitamix since there are no hard ingredients like ice. 2 minutes, and you are ready.

    How to drink it

    This vegan Irish cream liqueur is best served on the rocks. 🙂

    I found these lovely heart-shaped chocolate molds* to make cranberry jelly. But aren’t they also perfect for ice cubes? My glass got a tiny bit more awesome.

    If you like to mix it up, you can add this homemade vegan version to other drinks like:

    • Coffee-based drinks, e.g., iced coffee, hot coffee, or latte macchiato
    • Other beverages, e.g., chai latte, milkshake, or hot chocolate
    • Cocktails, e.g., Eggnog, Mudslide, Martini, B-52, or Jello Shots

    Here is a list of cocktails and mocktails using Baileys. Sadly, only some of them are vegan, but it is an excellent start to getting inspired.

    A whiskey glass with brown creamy drink and heart-shaped ice. Almonds, chocolate cubes are scattered around it.

    FAQs and substitutions

    Can you use other dairy-free milk?

    • Cashew milk – Almond milk can have a more pungent, nutty taste than cashew milk. If you want to tone it down, use this homemade cashew milk recipe.
    • Full-fat coconut milk – It could be a substitute for adding a more decadent creaminess like heavy cream. If you use that in combination with nut milk, boil it before adding the alcohol. Otherwise, the full-fat coconut cream will solidify when you put it in the fridge and can compromise the texture. It would be best to double the vanilla extract to overpower the coconut taste.
    • Soy milk – You can also try soy milk, which is not as thin as nut milk. I’m not too fond of the taste, but it can be an alternative for you.

    How long does it last?

    Keep it in the fridge for around 4-5 days, a maximum of a week.

    What kind of coffee should you use?

    You can use any other cold-brewed, capsule coffee or instant espresso powder. But choose at least a medium one in intensity. Otherwise, you might not be able to taste the coffee.

    Someone is pouring brown creamy drink into a whiskey glass with heart-shaped ice.

    Allergen info

    This Vegan Baileys recipe is dairy-free and egg-free.

    • Vegan – All suggested ingredients are supposed to be vegan.
    • Nut-free – You can use soy milk or oat milk if you need this recipe to be nut-free. It may alter the taste. All other ingredients are supposed to be nut-free, but always check the packaging before using any ingredient.
    • WFPB-friendly (whole foods plant-based) – As far as I know, alcohol is not compliant with this diet.
    • Gluten-free – All proposed ingredients are supposed to be gluten-free, but always check the packaging for cross-contamination info. According to Beyond Celiac, whiskeys are safe to drink for people diagnosed with celiac, as the distilling process removes any gluten. However, I read on several websites that it might not be gluten-free for the following reasons. First, distilleries might add back some “mash” after the distillation has finished. Second, they can use a wheat-based glue to seal the barrels. Third, there might be some caramel coloring or other added flavor that might contain gluten. So proceed with caution and check with the manufacturer.
    • Soy-free – All suggested ingredients are supposed to be soy-free.
    A whiskey glass with brown creamy drink and heart-shaped ice.

    Want some cookies with it?

    We have numerous vegan cookie recipes you might enjoy with homemade vegan Baileys.

    • Easy Vegan Snowball Cookies
    • Vegan Coconut Cookies (3 WAYS!)
    • Vegan Crescent Cookies

    THANK YOU so much for visiting our website. Please comment below if you have tried this recipe. We LOVE hearing from you! If you loved the recipe, please don’t forget to give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RATING. We appreciate all of our readers.  

    Different colorful vegetables drawn as icons on an orange background in a shape of a heart.

    ⇒ GET OUR FREE 7-DAY VEGAN MEAL PLAN E-BOOK NOW! OR CHECK OUT ALL VEGAN MEAL PLAN RECIPES! ⇐

    Glass from above with dark brown liquid and heart-shaped ice cubes.

    Copycat Vegan Baileys (Almande Liqueur)

    Emese Maczko
    Since Diageo discontinued Baileys Almande, also known as the vegan Baileys, in 2021, your only chance to enjoy it is to make it at home with this quick and easy recipe. All you need to do is mix Irish whiskey, coffee, almond milk, cane sugar, and a bit of vanilla and cocoa powder. It is better than the original. Look at the comments. 
    4.8 from 24 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Drinks
    Servings 2 cup
    Calories 135kcal

    Equipment

    • our Vitamix A2300
    • Regular blender

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ⅓ cup Irish whiskey 1 fl oz
    • 1 shot Espresso 1.35 fl oz
    • 1 + ⅔ cup Almond milk 13.5 fl oz
    • ½ cup Cane sugar or coconut sugar
    • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
    • ½ tsp Cocoa powder
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    EXCLUSIVE 5-ingredient recipes for busy home cooks that are ready in 15 minutes!Check out our Express Vegan Cookbook!

    Instructions
     

    • Add all ingredients to a blender and mix for a couple of minutes.
    • Serve chilled on the rocks. Shake well before serving. Store in fridge. 
    Tried this recipe? Can we see it?Please share a picture with us by uploading an image to Pinterest below ours.

    Notes

    Can you use other dairy-free milk?

    • Cashew milk – Almond milk can have a more pungent, nutty taste than cashew milk. If you want to tone it down, use this cashew milk recipe.
    • Full-fat coconut milk – It could be a substitute for adding a more decadent texture like heavy cream. If you use that in combination with nut milk, boil it before adding the alcohol. Otherwise, the full-fat coconut milk will solidify when you put it in the fridge and can compromise the texture. It would be best to double the vanilla extract to overpower the coconut taste.
    • Soy milk – You can also try soy milk, which is not as thin as nut milk. I’m not too fond of the taste, but it can be an alternative for you.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Copycat Vegan Baileys (Almande Liqueur)
    Amount Per Serving (1 dl)
    Calories 135 Calories from Fat 10
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 1.1g2%
    Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 0.7g
    Sodium 68mg3%
    Potassium 68mg2%
    Carbohydrates 21g7%
    Fiber 0.1g0%
    Sugar 20g22%
    Protein 0.6g1%
    Vitamin A 430IU9%
    Calcium 190mg19%
    Iron 0.4mg2%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    UPDATED: This recipe was originally posted in Feb 2019, but it was rewritten and republished in Oct 2022. 

    504 shares

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    1. Elisa

      November 24, 2022 at 5:16 am

      At last a vegan Baileys recipe without coconut milk! I’ve made the coconut version and as soon as it cools or you add ice is starts to solidify and is gross to drink. I can’t wait to try this one ( :

      Reply
      • Emese

        November 24, 2022 at 7:33 am

        Hi Elisa, let us know how it goes.

        Reply
    2. Stephanie

      October 15, 2021 at 2:47 am

      5 stars
      This was fantastic! I had everything on hand and it was made in less than 5 minutes. A keeper for sure!

      Reply
    3. Mark Vitelli

      May 27, 2021 at 11:41 am

      5 stars
      is it only refridgerate after opening? I wish to give as a gift but how long will it last in the sealed bottle without refridgertion?

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        May 27, 2021 at 1:57 pm

        Hi Mark,

        Yes, it has to be kept in a fridge to last long. If you want to give it to a gift, you can have it on room temperature for a couple of hours provided it is not a hot summer day though. Alcohol helps to preserve it and there is no real dairy to go bad quickly. So it should be fine.

        Reply
    4. Kim

      November 24, 2020 at 12:11 am

      Would this be as good using coconut sugar? Thanks!

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        November 25, 2020 at 7:41 pm

        Yes it would be delicious with coconut sugar, it might only be a little darker. Not that would be a large problem. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Ornia

      October 29, 2020 at 8:59 pm

      Has anyone tried with monkfruit instead of cane sugar?

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        October 30, 2020 at 7:45 am

        We haven’t sadly, but we would be curious too.

        Reply
    6. Susan

      April 11, 2020 at 7:26 pm

      5 stars
      Love your recipe, I made similar a month ago using Almond Cooking milk to simulate “cream”. We don’t drink it enough to warrant the mason jar i filled with the similar recipe. I will try yours next time but make very little. Mine is almost a month old now and I guess I should throw it out. I hate too…but oh well, better safe than sorry I suppose.

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        April 11, 2020 at 7:28 pm

        Almond cooking cream sounds like a great addition. Where I live I only ever see rice and soy cooking cream. Let us know how you like our version when you do make it.

        Reply
    7. Florence

      December 16, 2019 at 4:43 pm

      I would like to know for how long can you keep it in the fridge?

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        December 16, 2019 at 6:14 pm

        As long as you would keep the milk you make it from. I would say 7-10 days tops.

        Reply
    8. Marva

      December 08, 2019 at 11:17 pm

      5 stars
      Just made the Irish cream. Simply delicious !
      Plan on giving a few for gifts. ?

      Reply
      • My Pure Plants

        December 09, 2019 at 6:04 pm

        We are so glad to hear this! We love homemade gift giving as well.

        Reply
    9. Evans

      March 08, 2019 at 12:40 pm

      It looks so delicious. Can’t wait to try it out!

      Reply
    10. Alyssa Marie

      March 06, 2019 at 4:51 pm

      Baileys is one of my favorites! This recipe looks so easy and so much healthier and cheaper than buying regular Baileys! Definitely going to give it a try!

      Reply
    11. Ayushi

      March 06, 2019 at 10:55 am

      This looks so delicious and easy to make, I’m definitely going to give it a try 🙂

      Reply

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